CRITICAL THINKING REVISION NOTES
Credibility of evidence * Argument: A proposal/conclusion supported by a reason or reasons. * Evidence: Information that supports an argument. * Credibility: The believability of information.*
Source: Where information comes from e.g. a newspaper or a Website. * Truth – Something that is correct * Neutrality – A neutral source is impartial and does not take sides. The neutral source does not favour one point of view over another. Neutral sources are generally seen as more reliable. * Vested Interests – A person or organisation has a vested interest if they have seething to gain from supporting a particular point of view. This can cause a person or organisation to lie, tell the truth, distort evidence or present one-sided evidence. Vested interests can increase or decrease the credibility of a source. Vested interests do not necessarily mean that a source will be biased. * Bias – Bias is a lack of impartiality. Biased sources favour a particular point of view. It has been argued that an unbiased source is impossible as everyone has a particular viewpoint
1. Propaganda 2. Bias can be seen in the selective use of language 3. Cultural bias – Ethnocentrism

* Expertise – Expertise is specialist knowledge in a particular field. Experts are only regarded as knowledgeable in their own particular field.
However…
·Experts disagree. ·Experts have made incorrect judgements . ·Some have argued expertise is harmful. (e.g. medicine) ·Expertise changes over time. * Reputation – Reputation is the regard in which a person or organisation is held. People can have good or bad reputations based upon their character, organisations can have reputations because of their actions. Newspapers can also have a reputation for quality and accuracy. * Observation- Eyewitness accounts are direct